Archbishop of Birmingham calls on Catholics to pray for Anglicans

Roman Catholics are being urged to help the Anglican Church find a way through its worst crisis in decades by praying for the Archbishop of Canterbury and 650 bishops attending the Lambeth conference at the University of Kent.

Roman Catholics are being urged to help the Anglican Church find a way through its worst crisis in decades by praying for the Archbishop of Canterbury and 650 bishops attending the Lambeth conference at the University of Kent.

The plea came from the Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols, on the eve of the gathering which will discuss a range of controversial issues including homosexuality and the priesthood.

In a message to members of his diocese, Archbishop Nichols said a damaged Anglican Church would be bad for Christians. He said: “A weakened Anglican Communion, or Church of England, does not help the proclamation of the Christian faith.”

The Archbishop, in Australia after taking part in World Youth Day, added: “Prayers for the success of the Lambeth Conference are so important. I encourage Catholics to remember the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams and all those attending the Lambeth Conference.

“World Youth Day in Sydney has shown the vitality of the Catholic Church and its young people. I very much hope the Anglican Communion can draw strength from these Catholic traditions and the assurance of prayers from Pope Benedict XVI.”

His call prompted a message of support from the Anglican Bishop of Birmingham, the Rt Rev David Urquhart, attending the Lambeth conference.

Describing the opening session as “very fruitful”, Bishop Urquhart added; “Please do continue to pray for our discussions as we celebrate God’s mission across the world through the Anglican church.”

Archbishop Nichols’s message coincided with a concerted attempt by key Anglican leaders to appeal for unity in the run-up to the conference.

The Rt Rev Duleep de Chickera, the Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka, delivering the sermon during the opening service at Canterbury Cathedral, insisted there was space in the Anglican Church for everyone “regardless of colour, ability, gender or sexual orientation”.

His comments were addressed at more than 200 conservative Bishops boycotting the conference over homosexuality and the priesthood.

Bishop de Chickera admitted the Anglicans were a “wounded community” and faced complex “crisis” over the gay clergy row, but added there should be “equality for everyone”.

Dr Williams called the dispute “one of the most severe challenges to face the Anglican family”.

The conference is set to discuss a range of subjects including the Church’s mission and evangelisation, human sexuality, social justice and issues such as the environment.